881.00/2079
The Chargé at Tangier (Childs) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 26.]
Sir: In reference to the Legation’s despatch no. 452 of November 24, 194139 respecting the appointment of Colonel Uriarte as Delegate in Tangier of the Spanish High Commissioner in Morocco, and to the Legation’s telegram no. 372 of November 28, 1941, 1 p.m., which drew particular attention to the statement of Colonel Uriarte that all official matters should be presented to him through the Spanish Consulate General in Tangier, I now have the honor to enclose herewith a copy of a complaint which, according to this arrangement, I have addressed to my Spanish colleague, concerning the excessive delays attending the issuance of Spanish transit visas for American ressortissants desiring to proceed from French Morocco to Tangier.40
The details of the several individual cases involved are sufficiently set forth in the copy of the above mentioned communication to the Spanish Consul, but the Department will observe, from its general terms, that in regard to the excessive delays in the issuance of the Spanish visas in question, there is a relapse into or rather perhaps a continuation of the irritating situation for American ressortissants which, as reported in the Legation’s despatch no. 345 of September 12, 1941, General Orgaz gave me his personal assurances would be remedied.
[Page 577]These circumstances appear to confirm the apprehension suggested in the Legation’s despatch no. 452 above referred to, that Spanish inefficiency, or worse, in Morocco is so fundamental as to leave little or no hope of improvement, and that such measures as the mere multiplication of delegates of the High Commissioner or even the latter’s own personal intervention, may be but the illusory devices of a basically incoherent administration.
In any event, it would appear that the communication addressed by the Legation to the Spanish Consulate General in Tangier on the matter under discussion represents the exhaustion of all local remedies. Therefore, if no satisfactory response is made thereto and unless the inconvenience occasioned to American ressortissants in Morocco by the dilatory procedure of the local Spanish visa authorities are promptly and permanently removed, it is believed that there will be no other alternative than to request the American Embassy at Madrid to take up the question with the Spanish Government.
Respectfully yours,